Largest gurdwara in Gulf region opens - Times Of India
LUDHIANA: The largest gurdwara of Gulf region has been opened for public in Dubai. Gurdwara Guru Nanak Darbar has been constructed at a cost of $20 million. Though Dubai has 50,000 Sikhs staying there, it had no gurdwara so far.
Vice-president and prime minister of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Makhtoum, had granted 25,400 sq feet land for the gurdwara in Jebel Ali area.
"It is indeed a historic moment for Sikh community. I have been living in Dubai for 32 years and we had no place of worship. Now we at least have this gurdwara for solemnizing marriages and holding other religious ceremonies," said, Ravinderpal singh, 50, resident of Al-Qusais-Dubai and owner of an eatery.
Avtar Singh, 36, from Bur Dubai, who works with a multinational corporation, said, "We will go to the gurdwara for special prayers on Friday. Everyone in Dubai speaks in Hindi and Punjabi and this is a great place. There was only one thing missing and that was a place where we could say our prayers. Now, the government has also provided this to us."
He added that this was graceful gesture from UAE and signalled the beginning of a new chapter in the relations between Sikhs and Dubai government.
In the first week of January 2012, ruler of conservative Sharjah emirate Dr Sheikh Sultan III bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, had given 10 acres for a new crematorium for Hindus and Sikhs.
LUDHIANA: The largest gurdwara of Gulf region has been opened for public in Dubai. Gurdwara Guru Nanak Darbar has been constructed at a cost of $20 million. Though Dubai has 50,000 Sikhs staying there, it had no gurdwara so far.
Vice-president and prime minister of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Makhtoum, had granted 25,400 sq feet land for the gurdwara in Jebel Ali area.
"It is indeed a historic moment for Sikh community. I have been living in Dubai for 32 years and we had no place of worship. Now we at least have this gurdwara for solemnizing marriages and holding other religious ceremonies," said, Ravinderpal singh, 50, resident of Al-Qusais-Dubai and owner of an eatery.
Avtar Singh, 36, from Bur Dubai, who works with a multinational corporation, said, "We will go to the gurdwara for special prayers on Friday. Everyone in Dubai speaks in Hindi and Punjabi and this is a great place. There was only one thing missing and that was a place where we could say our prayers. Now, the government has also provided this to us."
He added that this was graceful gesture from UAE and signalled the beginning of a new chapter in the relations between Sikhs and Dubai government.
In the first week of January 2012, ruler of conservative Sharjah emirate Dr Sheikh Sultan III bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, had given 10 acres for a new crematorium for Hindus and Sikhs.
